Russell Knox Bio
Russell Colin Knox is a Scottish professional golfer who currently plays on the Korn Ferry Tour. Born in Inverness, Scotland, Knox first made his mark on the PGA Tour between 2014 and 2016, capturing the 2015 WGC-HSBC Champions and the 2016 Travelers Championship. He reached a career-high ranking of 18 in the Official World Golf Ranking at the end of 2016 and has continued to compete across multiple tours.
Early Life and Background
Russell Colin Knox was born on 21 June 1985 in Inverness, Scotland. His father was born in San Diego, California, giving the family ties on both sides of the Atlantic. Knox grew up in the Inverness area and attended Culloden Academy, where he developed his early interest in golf.
As a teenager, Knox signed with the sports scholarship agency FirstPoint USA in 2002. The agency helped him secure a golf scholarship in 2003 at Jacksonville University in Florida. Moving to the United States as a young player marked the beginning of his path toward a professional golf career.
Path to Professional Golf
Knox turned professional in 2007 and began working his way up through the lower tours. He played on the NGA Hooters Tour from 2008 to 2010, picking up two victories during that stretch. Those results gave him the momentum to step up to higher-level competition.
In 2011, Knox joined the Nationwide Tour and picked up his first victory at the Chiquita Classic in July of that year. He finished 12th on the Nationwide Tour money list and earned his full PGA Tour card. His first PGA Tour event was the 2011 Transitions Championship, where he failed to make the cut, setting the stage for several seasons of development before his breakthrough on golf’s biggest stages.
Russell Knox Career
Early Career (2007-2013)
Knox’s earliest years as a professional were spent primarily on developmental tours. After two wins on the NGA Hooters Tour, he moved to the Nationwide Tour in 2011. His first PGA Tour start came at the 2011 Transitions Championship, though he did not make the cut.
His first PGA Tour event as a full member was the 2012 Sony Open in Hawaii, where he missed the cut by a single stroke. In 2013, he split his time between the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour. A highlight came on 26 July 2013, when he shot a 59 in the second round of the Albertsons Boise Open. He finished 20th in the Web.com Tour Finals to earn his PGA Tour card for 2014.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2014-2016)
Knox’s 2014 season began with one of the most memorable near-misses of his career. He finished second at the Honda Classic, losing to Russell Henley in a four-man playoff that also featured Rory McIlroy and Ryan Palmer. Knox went on to finish 48th in the regular season FedEx Cup standings and reached 40th in the final playoff standings.
The 2015 season brought another significant step forward. Knox opened with a third-place finish at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and later tied for third at the Honda Classic. In November 2015, Knox won the 2015 WGC-HSBC Champions by two strokes over Kevin Kisner. He was playing in his first WGC event and became the first Scot to win a World Golf Championship, qualifying for the field only as a seventh reserve and third alternate. The victory pushed him into the top 50 of the world rankings for the first time.
Knox closed out his breakthrough stretch in 2016. He won the Travelers Championship in August 2016, finished tied for 10th at the Masters, and ended the year at a career-high 18 in the world rankings. He also finished fourth in the regular season FedEx Cup standings and 10th in the final FedEx Cup standings.
European Tour and Ryder Cup Effort (2016-2018)
Knox became a European Tour member at the start of the 2016 season in hopes of playing for Europe in the Ryder Cup. He just missed an automatic spot on the team and was not selected as one of the captain’s picks. As a European Tour member, he added more events on that schedule, including a runner-up finish at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open behind Rory McIlroy.
In the summer of 2018, Knox strung together several strong results. He tied for 12th at the U.S. Open, his best finish in a major championship, then finished as joint runner-up at the HNA Open de France. The following week, he won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open by beating Ryan Fox in a playoff. These performances lifted him back into the world top 50.
Later Career and Korn Ferry Tour (2019-Present)
In March 2019, Knox became the first-ever player to record an albatross in the history of the Valspar Championship. After years on the PGA Tour, he has continued his career on the Korn Ferry Tour, where his professional wins now total seven across multiple tours.
Notable Events and Milestones
Knox’s career is highlighted by several signature moments. His 2015 WGC-HSBC Champions win remains his most prominent achievement, while his 2016 Travelers Championship victory reinforced his status as a top-flight player. A 59 at the 2013 Albertsons Boise Open and his historic albatross at the 2019 Valspar Championship round out a list of memorable career milestones.
Russell Knox Career Wins
Russell Knox has recorded seven professional wins across several tours. Two of those victories came on the PGA Tour, two on the European Tour, one on the Korn Ferry Tour’s predecessor Nationwide Tour, and two on the NGA Hooters Tour, with one additional win on the eGolf Professional Tour.
PGA Tour Highlights
Knox captured his first PGA Tour title at the 2015 WGC-HSBC Champions, winning by two strokes over Kevin Kisner. He added the 2016 Travelers Championship the following August, completing a stretch in which he also finished runner-up at the 2016 RBC Heritage and the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in his career, Knox won twice on the NGA Hooters Tour between 2008 and 2010, then added a Nationwide Tour title at the 2011 Chiquita Classic. He also posted a victory on the eGolf Professional Tour and, in 2018, won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open by beating Ryan Fox in a playoff.
Russell Knox Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Knox was born in Inverness, Scotland, and raised in the local area. His father was born in San Diego, California, linking the family to both Scotland and the United States. Knox attended Culloden Academy before leaving Scotland to pursue a golf scholarship at Jacksonville University.
Personal Life
Knox married former tennis player Andrea Hernandez in April 2014. The couple has made their home in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, the same area where Knox attended college and later built his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Russell Knox continues his professional career on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2025, where he is focused on returning to the PGA Tour. As a veteran with multiple tour wins and a career-best world ranking of 18, Knox brings experience and a steady presence to the Korn Ferry Tour field.
His 2025 schedule includes a mix of regular Korn Ferry Tour stops and select Monday qualifiers for PGA Tour events. With seven professional victories already on his resume, Knox is positioned to compete for several of the season’s biggest purses.
Knox’s track record in playoffs and his comfort on a variety of course layouts make him a contender throughout the 2025 season. If he can string together consistent finishes, a return to the PGA Tour and a push back toward the top 50 in the world rankings remain realistic goals for the year ahead.